Cold State Line

Anger was still pulsing through my body. I had to leave the hospital. I had left Haylee there, alone and afraid. Sure, she had Tina and Anna, but neither of those women could protect her if Clay came there. She was alone with doctors working to safe her life. And I had left her alone because I had to go write music. In frustration, I punched my car door. A dent was left.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself down. I hadn’t been this angry in a long time. I had used to be an angry kid, letting my emotions get the better of me way too often. Over the years, I had learned to let all of that out through my music. But I couldn’t this time. All I wanted to do was find Clay and strangle the bastard. He had hurt someone I cared deeply for.

When the guys had heard, they had flown out with me, but they had stayed at the hotel so I could visit Haylee alone. I’m sure if they knew that I was about to do something incredibly stupid, they would be here to stop it from happening. But they weren’t here, and my emotions were definitely getting the better of me.

With fury pulsing through my veins, I took off for Haylee’s house. If I knew one thing from watching crime shows with Johnny, it was that the culprit always went back to the scene of the crime. If I was going to find Clay, I needed to start at the most obvious place. Hopefully, he would be there and it would end my search.

The drive flashed by, quickly landing in me appearing at Haylee’s house. I didn’t see any other car, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t here. My legs shook as I walked to her house. There was police crime scene tape outside her door. It said not to cross, but I was too far gone to listen to some bullshit yellow tape. I pushed the door opened and took in a breath.

Her house looked the same. I don’t know what I was expecting. Tina had said that whoever assaulted her (It was Clay, obviously) had done so in her bedroom. My legs still shook as I climbed the stairs and slowly pushed open her door.

I don’t know what I expected to see but it wasn’t what I expected. There was blood and glass across her sheets, but there was nothing more. In my head, it had been a gruesome crime scene. I was picturing blood and torn up sheets and basically a horror scene. This little damage and that much to Haylee made my blood fucking pulse. I really was going to kill him.
I left the bedroom. I couldn’t stand to be in there anymore. I just wanted to find Clay.

Although, I knew if Haylee was awake, she would tell me to let it go. She would remind me that his dad was a powerful man and that I would be in more trouble than he would ever be. I also knew if I did wind up doing something, not even our lawyers would be able to get me off. I was premeditating; anyone could see that.

Shaking my head, I walked back to my car. The anger was still there, but it wasn’t as bad. I still wanted to hurt Clay, like he had hurt Haylee. I wanted him to feel the kinds of pain he had inflicted on her. I wanted him to know what it was like to struggle and have no one come to your aid. He was going to hurt in the same way she did.

Before I knew it, I was back at the hospital, sitting in my car wondering how I got there. Had I been speeding? How had I known how to get back here? Was Haylee okay? How much time had lapsed?

“Matt, she’s awake,” Anna said when she saw me walk in. “She wants to see you. But… she doesn’t look the same.” Tears formed in her eyes. I knew Anna was feeling pity for her friend.

I nodded and headed back to the room after a nurse directed me. Standing outside of her room, I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Haylee was laying on her bed covered in different IVs and looking pale. There was a large bandage covering the left side of her face and neck. Her eyes were bloodshot and she sent me a weak smile.

“Hey beautiful,” I said and walked over to her bed. I took one of her hands and kissed it.

She met my eyes and chuckled. “You look as bad as me.”

“No, love, I look worse. You are still as beautiful as ever.” I wasn’t lying either. Just having her alive meant that she was gorgeous. She was here, she was alive, and she could still be my girlfriend if I stopped being a pussy.

“You’re just saying that,” Haylee said quietly. I could tell she was self-conscious even if she was joking with me. “The doctors are all surprised I’m still alive.”

I sat down, her hand still in mine. “We all are. And we are all so thankful. The rest of the guys want to see you when you’re up for it.”

She nodded. Her eyes held mine. I could see so many emotions in them. “I wish you had been there, Matt. I don’t know what you would have done, but I thought of you the entire time. He’s an evil man.”

I tried to not let that anger boil over again. She couldn’t see me angry because if she did, she would associate me with Clay. I would never and could never be like him. Clay was a devil. He was the worst kind of man. He wasn’t even a man; he was a worm.

“Did you tell the police?” I had to ask it. I had to know that someone other than me was going to help her. Because if the ass clowns in charge here wouldn’t, I was taking her away. She needed to be safe. I stopped myself. That was me thinking like him. I would NOT be like him.

“I did,” she said softly. “They are actually looking into this. The chief barred his dad from getting anywhere near this case. He wants Clay in jail; he always has.”

A sigh of relief escaped me and without thinking, I pressed a kiss to Haylee’s lips. At first she was shocked and then she pulled my hair and deepened our kiss. This girl was amazing, and I wanted to be with her… if she let me.

Notes

I hope that was a long enough update to satisfy. GUESS WHO'S GRE SCORE WAS HIGH ENOUGH?!?!?!